On February 23, 2026, Chinese AI lab DeepSeek prepared to roll out its V4 model, raising concerns for U.S. tech and semiconductor stocks. The move came as markets were already unsettled by tariffs, geopolitical risks, and Nvidia's upcoming earnings. Some investors fear that if DeepSeek can deliver powerful models at lower cost, large-scale AI spending in the U.S. could be questioned, while others see cheaper AI as a catalyst for broader adoption and infrastructure demand.

On February 23, 2026, analysts Geoff Kendrick and John Davies projected the stablecoin market cap to reach $2 trillion by end‑2028, implying $800 billion to $1 trillion in additional demand for U.S. Treasury bills. They also estimated total new T‑bill demand near $2.2 trillion when Federal Reserve purchases and mortgage‑backed securities reinvestment are included.

On February 22, 2026, JPMorgan Chase confirmed in a court filing that it closed Donald Trump's private and commercial bank accounts following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The disclosure came amid Trump's $5 billion lawsuit accusing the bank and CEO Jamie Dimon of politically motivated debanking, while JPMorgan maintains the closures were based on legal and regulatory risk considerations.

On February 20, 2026, Nvidia was reported to be close to finalizing a $30 billion investment in OpenAI, far below the $100 billion commitment it had made a year earlier. The funding is part of a $100 billion round that could push OpenAI's valuation to $830 billion and make it one of the most highly valued private firms globally. The reduced commitment has unsettled markets, especially as OpenAI is expected to channel much of the new capital back into Nvidia hardware, raising questions over circular financing and long-term sustainability.

On February 19, 2026, major U.S. stock indexes slipped, with the S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq all edging lower after Federal Reserve minutes signaled rate cuts are not imminent. Investors also reacted to Walmart's earnings beat but cautious profit outlook, while stronger oil prices and upcoming PCE and GDP data kept market sentiment restrained.

On February 18, 2026, a coalition of major investors called for Starbucks shareholders to remove directors Jorgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth Ford at the March 25 annual meeting, citing failures in overseeing labor relations. The campaign follows a historic nationwide strike by over 3,800 baristas and heightened tensions with Starbucks Workers United over pay, scheduling, and staffing. Starbucks maintains that its baristas earn an average of $30 per hour including benefits and says labor oversight has been reassigned among existing board committees.

On February 18, 2026, Berkshire Hathaway released its final 13F report of the Warren Buffett era, covering holdings as of December 31, 2025, when he retired as CEO at age 95. The filing shows a new position of more than five million New York Times shares, a larger Chevron stake, and notable reductions in Amazon and a smaller trim in Apple and Bank of America. Core holdings such as Alphabet, American Express, and Coca-Cola were left unchanged as Greg Abel assumes leadership of the $1 trillion conglomerate.

On February 18, 2026, minutes from the Federal Reserve's January FOMC meeting showed broad support for keeping the federal funds rate in the 3.50%–3.75% range, with only a few officials favoring a cut. Policymakers cited persistent inflation, steady economic growth and stabilizing job gains for the pause, while markets now expect a 25 basis point reduction in June.

On February 17, 2026, the FTSE 100 inched higher while sterling retreated after fresh UK labor figures showed unemployment rising and wage growth slowing. Investors viewed the softer pay data as easing inflation pressure and reducing the need for further Bank of England tightening, lifting exporters and globally focused energy, mining, and pharmaceutical shares.